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Sunday, 11 January 2015

One Step at a Time

One Step at a Time by Jane Jolly, illustrated by Sally Heinrich (MidnightSun Publishing)

HB RRP $27.99

ISBN 9780987380951

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The cover of this picture book immediately grabs
one’s attention as it is bold and attractive, showing that the artwork is
obviously the result of print-making. Opening it, one is amused by the fly
pages showing an elephant trudging across the page in line after line. The
illustrator, Sally Heinrich, has been recognized through various fellowships
and this book, the first picture book from an Australian publishing company which
established in late 2014, is pictorially stunning.

Set in Thailand and based on fact, the story is of a
boy, Luk, who is keeper of Mali an elephant; together they help Luk’s
grandmother drag timber from the forest. However, disaster is moments away when
Mali steps on a landmine and is downed. Saffron-robed monks from a temple chant
‘aged-old blessings’ on Mali and the small boy tends her. Happily, a practical
solution is found to help the crippled elephant and all ends well.

The publisher claims this is a ‘ground-breaking
story’ and portrayed in picture book form, it most likely is as it draws a child reader’s attention to the
dreadful problem of more than 110 active mines scattered in over 70 countries
around the world – a fact mentioned in a post-script.

That Jolly is a fine writer is evidenced by the fact
she has won three CBCA Notable mentions for her picture books. This is a
beautifully designed book with illustrations which are dramatic in parts and
tender in others. The illustrator makes frequent use of border illustrations that are in
keeping with the oriental feel of the book. Jolly and Heinrich and MidnightSun
Publishing ought to be well-pleased with this special book for children aged 6
years and up.